Roundup: Utah State player’s status improving

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Utah State's Danny Berger (12) shot against Mercer during the CollegeInsider.com college basketball tournament championship game in March.

A Utah State basketball player who collapsed at practice and had to be revived after he stopped breathing is improving and making good progress, school officials said Wednesday night, although the player remains in critical condition.

Danny Berger is awake and talking to his family in a Salt Lake City area hospital, Utah State basketball team doctor Trek Lyons said at a press conference in Logan, Utah. Tubes used to help Berger breathe have been removed.

‘‘He recognizes his family, his doctors and the instructions he is given,’’ Lyons said. ‘‘It is a good sign and a sign of improving.’’

A game scheduled for Wednesday night between Utah State and BYU in Provo, Utah was postponed because of Berger’s condition, school officials said. No date has been selected to play the game.

Doctors don’t know what caused the 22-year-old Berger to collapse on the court during a practice Tuesday in Logan. Berger doesn’t have any known pre-existing condition or heart problems.

Longtime Utah State assistant athletic trainer Mike Williams is being credited with saving Berger’s life.

The incident happened in the middle of Tuesday’s practice when Berger collapsed into the arms of teammate Kyisean Reed as he moved toward the sideline. He was no longer breathing when he hit the court, Lyons said.

Within a minute or two, Williams used a defibrillator on Berger, who was in full cardiac arrest, he said. The shocks helped Berger regain a pulse.